Welshpool betting shop appeal is dismissed

William Hill wanted to open at the former Stead & Simpson shop in Broad Street, Welshpool, but Powys County Council's planning committee refused permission earlier this year.

The betting firm lodged an appeal against the decision with the Welsh Assembly, but its inspector, Peter Horridge, dismissed the appeal saying it would not be suitable in the location.

Mr Horridge said: "At issue are the effects of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the Welshpool Conservation Area and on the vitality and viability of the town centre.

"The Welshpool Conservation Area covers much of the historic centre of the town. It is characterised by the age and variety of buildings within it. The concentration of retail premises and the varied appearance of their shopfronts add to this character.

"The nub of the appeal is the loss of an A1 retail shop and the effect that this would have on the vitality and viability of the shopping area."

"Policy generally resists the loss of ground floor A1 and A3 retail uses in primary shopping frontages such as this.

"The unit is in a prominent position on the main shopping street of Welshpool and is one of the larger and therefore more important retail units in the street.

"The visiting public see it as a Stead & Simpson shoe shop as that is the name on the fascia display, although that company went into administration in 2012 and it is presently being run by Shoe Zone, administrators for Stead & Simpson, and has been occupied since the administration on a monthly rolling tenancy.

"Although the grounds of appeal stated that the present occupiers would vacate the store in January 2014 due to its unprofitability, they are still trading.

"The fact is that the store is still trading as an A1 retail unit and its location in a prominent position at the heart of the primary shopping area of Welshpool makes it important that every attempt be made to secure continued retail use in line with policy."

He added: "The appellants point out that the council has permitted the loss of A1/A3 uses in other locations in Welshpool as well as in Newtown. The full background to each of these cases has not been explained, but in several instances it appears that the decisions were supported by more detailed marketing evidence than has been provided in this case.

"It may well be that in due course the same can be demonstrated in the case of the appeal site. However, given the prominent location of the appeal site, the fact that it is still occupied as an A1 retail use and the incomplete evidence about marketing, there are insufficient material considerations to justify a departure from the development plan in this case.

"The loss of this unit to a bookmaker's use would harm the vitality and viability of the town centre of Welshpool and as such would fail to preserve or enhance the character of the conservation area."